Century 21 Real Estate Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2026)
Century 21 Real Estate is a global real estate franchise known for its extensive network of agents and comprehensive services, providing clients with expert guidance and support throughout the buying, selling, or renting process.
KEY FRANCHISE STATS
Franchisees
?
1734
+
-7%
-7%
Franchise fee
?
$25,000
Investment
?
$116,000 - $466,000
Revenue (AUV)
?
Undisclosed
$0
+
n.a.
n.a.
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Century 21 Real Estate LLCis a globally recognized residential and commercial real estate franchise. It was founded in 1971 in Santa Ana, California, by Art Bartlett and Marsh Fisher.
Today, the company is headquartered in Madison, New Jersey. Century 21 began franchising shortly after its founding and experienced rapid growth throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
The brand now operates in more than 86 countries, with approximately 14,250 independently owned and operated offices and over 147,000 affiliated sales professionals. It provides real estate brokerage services, including residential, luxury, commercial, and international property transactions.
Initial investment
The initial investment required for a Century 21 Real Estate franchise is
$116,000 - $466,000.
That is the total cost you would need to finance if you were to start this franchise.
These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.
Type of Expenditure
Amount
Facility and Space Planning
$9,000 – $17,500
Security and Other Deposits
$7,500 – $17,700
Furnishings and Communications Equipment
$27,000 – $87,500
Prepaid Business Expenses
$3,000 – $4,600
Additional Funds (first 3 months after opening)
$35,000 – $60,000
Total Additional Investment for New Start-Up Office
$81,500 – $187,300
Total Initial Investment for Conversion Office
$34,670 – $279,000
Total Investment for New Start-Up Office
$116,170 – $466,300
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Type of Expenditure
Amount
Facility and Space Planning
$9,000 – $17,500
Security and Other Deposits
$7,500 – $17,700
Furnishings and Communications Equipment
$27,000 – $87,500
Prepaid Business Expenses
$3,000 – $4,600
Additional Funds (first 3 months after opening)
$35,000 – $60,000
Total Additional Investment for New Start-Up Office
$81,500 – $187,300
Total Initial Investment for Conversion Office
$34,670 – $279,000
Total Investment for New Start-Up Office
$116,170 – $466,300
Franchise Disclosure Document
Below is Century 21 Real Estate's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. Upgrade to Pro or purchase the FDD to view and download the document.
Number of units
Century 21 Real Estate had 1734 total units in 2025, of which 1734 were franchised-owned and 0 company-owned.
Century 21 provides several structured training opportunities to help franchisees successfully operate their offices and integrate into the CENTURY 21® System.
Initial Training (International Leadership Academy - ILA) Attendance at the ILA program is mandatory for all new franchisees opening their first CENTURY 21® office. It must be completed within 24 months of the office’s opening date, and can be attended by either the franchisee or an approved designee.
Training for Transferred or Branch Offices Franchisees acquiring offices through assignment/transfer or opening branch offices must bear the cost of attending the ILA program. While ILA is not required for branch office purchases, it is highly encouraged.
Continuing Assistance and Education CENTURY 21 provides ongoing updates, improvements, and changes through bulletins, electronic communication, phone consultations, or in-person visits. They also offer optional educational seminars, conferences, and online courses, which may incur fees and require the franchisee to cover travel and related expenses.
Territory Protection
Century 21 grants a limited territory protection to franchisees, specifically a "protected area" defined as a ¼-mile radius from the franchisee's office location. This protection means no other Century 21 franchisee will be granted a location within that radius.
However, this does not prevent other franchisees from seeking clients or listings in the same market, nor does it stop Century 21 from using alternative sales channels like the internet.
Although the franchisee has a localized area where no other physical franchise can be opened, the protection is not absolute. Century 21 reserves the right to allow other franchisees or company-owned operations to compete within the broader area outside the protected radius.
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